Relates to the establishment of free childcare centers in every court in the unified court system for the minor children and dependents of jurors, parties in civil cases, and criminal defendants.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10428
SPONSOR: Rules (Solages) TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the judiciary law, in relation to establishing childcare
centers in courts for the children and dependents of certain persons
PURPOSE:
To estblish child supervisiom centers in courts, allowing parents or
guadians to preform their civic duty at ease.
SUMMARY:
Section l. Amends subdivision I of section 21 1 of the judiciary law by
adding a new paragraph.
Section 2. Sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
More than half a million jurors serve in the New York State court system
each year
l. Within that portion is a share of New Yorkers who are
parents to children who are often tasked with the difficult burden of
finding childcare for their children upon being summoned to jury
service. This is a greater difficulty for those who are impacted by
financial insecurity and are therefore not able to afford childcare.
This legislation would grant parents that are summoned to jury service
the ability to perform their civic duty with more ease, knowing that
childcare will be provided. Court childcare centers can and already
regularly facilitate connections between families and services such as
Head Stan WIC, SNAP, literacy education, and other community services
2.
Childcare centers also protect children from the proceedings of the
courtroom. In court, children may be exposed to disturbing proceedings.
This legislation would offer a remedy to these possibilities by creating
a child friendly space outside of the courtroom. The goal of this
legislation is to expand and diversify the jury pool. People of color
are more likely to struggle to afford quality childcare. This bill will
help relieve that burden so that more diverse jurors can serve.
GENDER JUSTICE IMPACT:
Women are more likely to be the sole childcare providers of the chil-
dren. A lack of childcare is a substantial barrier to women serving on a
jury. This bill will allow more women to serve on juries.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.
Il https://www.nyjuror.gov/pdfs/hb EE.pdf
2https://ww2.nycouHs.gov/ip/childrenscenter/index.shtml
3https://ww2.nycourts.gov/ip/childrenscenter/index.shtml
